Seat construction



SEAT CONSTRUCTION Filed March 27, 1959 [N VENTO/6 Patented Aug. 4, 1942UNITED STATES PATENT oFFlcE SEAT CONSTRUCTION Aloysius C. Diehl,vMonroe, Mich.

Application March 27, 1939, Serial No. 264,281

Claims.

My invention relates to seats, and particularly to seat cushions formedin such manner and so secured together as to be foldable upon themselvesto form a carrying case.

The inventive concept embodies the idea of providing a seat cushion andback cushion which preferably are exact counterparts of each other andwhich may be employed as separate cushions, or which are readilysecurable together in hinged relation to have the base of the cushionsengage each other to form a carrying case. The cushions are hollow,having a border frame supporting arcuate spring strips which extend fromopposite sides thereof and over which padding and upholstery material isdisposed. Wings of separable hinges are secured to one of the sides ofthe border frame, while a handle is disposed on the opposite sidethereof. The side edges of the frame are provided with headed studs bywhich the cushions, when disposed in seat and back relation, may besecured together. The securing element is preferably providedwithseveral apertures so that a predetermined tilt of the back cushionrelative to the seat may be obtained.

The releasable hinges are so disposed on the frame that they arf` thesame on both cushions. This is also true of the securing means forretaining the two cushions in locked relation so that each cushion isexactly alike to simplify manufacture. Gusset plates may be employed inthe corner of the frame, each having means for supporting a leg, wherebythe cushion may be supported from the ground, on the legs, or on a plankseat such as that furnished in stadiums. Clamping arms may be providedon the side frame portions of the seat to be swung downwardly inposition to pass under such a stadium seat to anchor the cushionthereon.

Accordingly, the main objects of my invention are; to provide likecushions which may be hingedly attached to each other and swung into aposition to form a carrying case; to provide a carrying case constructedfrom two cushions which may be swung 270 degrees relative to each otherto form a seat and back cushion; to provide a pair of cushions which arereleasably hinged together and which are hollow and can be used asseparate cushions, as a cushion and back of a seat, or moved intointimate relation f to form a carrying case; to provide a cushion with aswingable arm by which the cushion is secured to a, stadium seat; toprovide a cushion with gusset plates at the corners to which legs may beattached; and in general, to form cushions in such manner that a pair ofsuch cushions when secured together may form a seat and back or carryingcase, all of which is simple in construction and economical ofmanufacture.

Other objects and features of novelty of my invention will be eitherspecifically pointed out or will become apparent when referring, for abetter understanding of my invention, to the following description takenin conjunction with the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a pair of cushions embodying myinvention, secured together to form a carrying case;

Fig. 2 is a side View of the cushions illustrated in Fig. 1 whenrelatively rotatedthrough 270 degrees and secured together and to astadium seat;

Fig. 3 is a view of structure similar to that illustrated in Fig. 2,supported on legs transportable within the cushions when in carryingcase position; I

Fig. 4 is an enlarged perspective view, with parts broken away, of thestructure illustrated in Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a view of the border frame illustrated on the structure ofFig. 4, with the ends 'of a spring strip secured therein and with a clipprovided thereon for supporting the handle;

Fig. 6 is a plan view of the abutting edges of the cushions illustratingthe securing hinges therefor;

Fig. '7 is an enlarged sectional view of the structure illustrated inFig. 3, taken on the line 1-1 thereof; and,

Fig. 8 is an enlargedsectional view of the structure illustrated in Fig.1, taken on the line 8-8 thereof.

It has been pointed out hereinabove that the pair of cushions I0 whichform the carrying case illustrated in Fig. 1 and the seats illustratedin Figs. 2 and 3, are preferably constructed exactly alike to simplifythe manufacture thereof. It is to be understood that the cushions may bepermanently hinged together and securing means may be provided which aredifferent on each cushion. However, I prefer to construct each cushionexactly alike to` provide a unique seat which is transportable as acarrying case. Since the construction is such as to providesubstantially the same area of luggage space as any case of similardimension, with very little increase in weight, one can appreciate themany uses for my unique seat and case combination, since the cushionsthereof are extremely rugged and resilient.

The cushion I is formed from a frame element. II illustrated moreclearly in Fig. 5. In this arrangement the element is of channelformation having tunnels I2 formed therein at spaced intervals. Thetunnels provide means for securing the end I3 of snuously formed springstrips I4 which are similar to those illustrated and described in thepatent to Karl Kaden, No. 2,002,399, issued May 21, 1935. The borderframe II is similar to that illustrated and described in the UnitedStates Letters Patent to Clarence H. Menge, No. 2,172,942, issuedSeptember 12, 1939. The particular border element II illustrated in Fig.5 has attached thereto a channel element I6 to provide strength. AU-shaped clip I1 is soldered, brazed, welded, or otherwise secured tothe frame by which a ring I8 of the handle I9 is secured. After thespring strips I4 are secured in the tunnels I2 the walls of the channelportion 2| through which the end I3 was inserted are crimped to preventthe reverse movement of the end from the tunnel.

. The opposite, or bottom portion of the border frame II, as viewed inthe figure, has hinged wings 22 and 23 provided thereon disposed to bemateable with similar hinged wings 22 and 23 secured in like manner onthe frame of another cushion. Headed studs 24 are bolted, welded, orotherwise secured to the side portions of the frames near the bottomedge thereof for the purpose of retaining the cushions in predeterminedrelation to each other when employed in seat and back cushion relation,as illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3. Interiorly of the cushions, clips 25are secured to the side portions of the border frame, in which wires 26are disposed for swinging movement about the frame to a positionextending therebelow, as illustrated in Fig. 2.

Gusset plates 21 may be provided in the corners of the frame, asillustrated in Figs. 4 and '7. 'Ihe gusset plate has a marginal channelportion 28 encompassing the channel I6 and is welded or otherwisesecured thereto. 'I'he gusset plates are provided with flanges 29internally threaded to receive the thread on the end of the legs 3 I Thelegs 3| are of such length as to be disposed within the cushion andtherefore the case when secured together as viewed in Fig. 1.

A padding 32, which may be of felt, jute, hair,

'-rubber, or the like, is disposed over the spring strips I4 and a trimmaterial 33 is disposed over the padding and secured about the edge ofthe frame in any well-known manner, herein illustrated as by stitching.The headed studs 24 project through the trim material, as illustrated inFig. 1, as also do the U-shaped clips I1 to which the handles I9 aresecured, and the hinge portions. YSuitable means may be provided on thecushions for locking the edges together when in carrying case position.For the purpose of illustration, I have shown straps 3B, one of which issecured at one end of the cushion near the top edge while a buckle orother means for securing the strap is attached to the opposite edge ofthe cushion. 'Ihis follows the concept .of having both cushions exactlyalike to have a single manufacturing product when providing two cushionsto form a carrying case.

In Fig. 8 I have illustrated a hinged partition 31 disposed across thebase of each of the cushions with the end opposite to the hinge securedin position by a tab 38 carrying a glove fastener 39. When thecompartment; within the cushion is packed with wearing apparel or otherobjects,

face so that the two elements may be separated without spilling thecontents or either compartment. When the cushions are to be employed asa seat having a back, they are relatively swung through 270 degrees tothe position illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3, after which a pair of links4I are utilized to engage the headed ,studs 24 to retain the cushions inright angle relation to each other as illustrated in Fig. 2. In thisgure, the seat cushion is illustrated as being disposed on a stadiumseat and retained in position by the locking wires 26 which were swungto a position below the cushion.

In Fig. 3 I have illustrated a link 42 having a plurality of apertures43 therein to be selectively engageable with the headed stud 24 so thatthe back cushion may assume a tilted position relative to the seatcushion. When the cushions are suiiiciently braced, or when disposed onthe ground, the occupant may assume a reclining position through thesecuring of the headed studs 24 in one of the apertures 43 on the links42.

The cushions of the device are unique because they will support theweight of a person while providing a hollow compartment. Two of thecushions may be secured together in base abutting relation, hinged toswing from a carrying case relationship into a seat. Ample room isprovided within the cushions ,when forming a case, while ample supportas a cushion is obtained when the cushions are separated to formindividual seats or` when swung into right angle position to provide aseat and back relationship. One-half of the case could be carriedseparately and used as a. seat, as illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3, withoutthe back cushion, and could be supported against a wall by the hinges 22and 23 and the links 4I.

While I have described and illustrated but a single embodiment of myinvention, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that variouschanges, omissions, additions and substitutions may be made thereinwithout departing from the spirit and scope of my invention, as setforth in the accompanying claims.

the partition 31 may be secured across the open 75 What I claim is:

1. The combination of a pair of frames, arched spring means spanningsaid frames, hinge means connecting an edge of one frame to an adjacentedge of the other frame whereby said frames may be folded together inbase to base relation to form a hollow container or may be unfolded toextend at an angle one to the other in seat and back relationship, meansfor securing said frames in said seat and back relation, and means forsecuring said cushions in folded'base to base relation with said archedspring means forming the sides of the resulting container.

2. The combination of a pair of frames, a plurality of arched springstrips spanning said frames, hinge means connecting an edge of one frameto an adjacent edge of the other frame whereby said frames may be foldedtogether in base to base relation to form a hollow container or may beunfolded to extend at an angle one to the other in seat and backrelationship, means for securing said frames in said seat and backrelation, and means for securing said cushions in folded base to baserelation with said arched spring strips forming the sides of theresulting container. i

3. The combination of a pair of frames, a plurality of arched springstrips spanning said frames and upholstery covering said strips, hingemeans connecting an edge of one frame to an adjacent edge of the otherframe whereby said frames may be folded together in base to baserelation to forni a hollow container or may be n resulting container.

4. The combination of a, pair of frames, a plurality of arched springstrips spanning said frames, separable hinge means connecting an edge ofone frame to an adjacent edge of the other frame whereby said frames maybe folded together in base to base relation to form a hollow containeror may be unfolded to extend at an angle one to the other in seat andback relationship, and to be separated one from the other, means forsecuring said frames in seat and back relation, and means for securingsaid cushions in folded base to base relation with said arched springsforming the sides of the resulting container.

5. The combination of a pair of frames, a plurality of arched springstrips spanning said frames, hinge means connecting an edge of one frameto an adjacent edge of the other frame whereby said frames may be foldedtogether in base to base relation to form a hollow container or may beunfolded to extend at an angle one to the other in seat and backrelationship, means for securing said frames in said seat and backrelation, means for securing said cushions in folded base to baserelation with said arched spring strips forming the sides of theresulting container, and an arm connected to at least one of said frameswhich is hingedly mounted to extend therebelow for securing the frametoan element.

ALOYSIUS C. DIEHL.

